Mareblu

Ron Coote:  Legend

14 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

I was still working, as was many of our friends and family that came along. A long weekend cruise fitted well.

 

Definitely not a South's fan, in fact they are actually one of the NRL clubs I like to see lose, along with Manly, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Not Wicky’s Waiders, though 

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

struggling, orthapedic surgeon at bega hosp monday. thanks for call. wales is great.

Hang in there, and keep us posted, Les.  As you can see, we’re all thinking of you.

4 hours ago, lyndarra said:

Forget the emoji, go with this.

 

That’s the one!  Perfect.

1 minute ago, Mareblu said:

Time to reactivate the (Uncle) Les thread.  How are you faring after your recent setback, Les?  Sending healing wishes from Wales 🐦‍🔥

Those emojis are meant to be one dragon.  Kept autocorrecting🤷🏻‍♀️

Time to reactivate the (Uncle) Les thread.  How are you faring after your recent setback, Les?  Sending healing wishes from Wales 🐦‍🔥

1 minute ago, MicCanberra said:

Not there or the Netherlands 

I was just fiddling around

Andre Rieu’s lounge room in Maastricht, The Netherlands?

59 minutes ago, basor said:

Vista and Allure have them installed 

The wifi on our Vista cruise which ended on 1May was strong and reliable.

On 5/10/2024 at 6:09 AM, NSWP said:

lyle i do not have credit card, just anz visa debit, use it here and used it overseas in atm and purchases, no problems. being old school i always carry a couple of hundred cash.

 

sorry for typing, but last week had a big fall and smashed left shoulder and arm.am left handed. was in hosp and a lot of pain.

Oh Les, so very sorry to learn of your accident.  I hadn’t visited this thread for a while.  Mario joins me in sending healing wishes for the best possible recovery, which as all three of us know takes a tad longer these days.  So wonderful, at times like these, that you have your daughter close by.   I know you’ll be receiving good care, and it’s as well you’re no longer living alone, but in a community.  Take care and follow the medical advice, which we know you would certainly do.  We’re looking forward to catching up on our return and if and when you feel up to it.

5 hours ago, D&N said:

I found a duo called "Cula - Irish Duo - Tommy and Brian" on FB, who have been on Cunard.

The other ones I've heard of are "The Newfoundland Duo".

The Newfoundland Duo (father and son) produces brilliant entertainment.  Highly talented instrumentalists and vocalists.  I’ve been hoping against hope they may just appear on our QA “British Isles” voyage later this month.  Fingers crossed.

6 hours ago, NSWP said:

Happy mothers day to all on cc. enjoy.

 Thank you, Les, thoughtful as always.  Thanks to all the well wishers, and Happy Mothers Day to all mothers on our threads.  

4 minutes ago, Ima Ginaree said:

Fortingall Yew, Perthshire, Scotland?

Correct!  We drove to Fortingall village yesterday.  My 3rd g.grandmother was born there.  The tree is Europe’s, and probably our world’s, oldest living thing.  Over 5,000 years old.  Amazing.

your turn…

2 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Yew aren't kidding.

Come on Mic, I can tell you know it🤣

Clue:  not just any old tree

56 minutes ago, Bowm54 said:

Mareblu, please take the stage!

That’s so kind.  I’ll try🙏🏻

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Curious what class you were traveling on Cunard and if that may have been the reason for the congestion, crowding and disorganization.   This fall we will be sailing Cunard eastbound from New York to Southampton Queen's Grill. 

 

Having never sailed Cunard it will indeed be an adventure.

 

 

I can assure you that your Queen’s Grill experience will be superb.  Our QG voyage on QE last year bore absolutely no resemblance to this review.  Service, staff, accommodation and cuisine were all impeccable.  We have just completed 20 days on Vista;  we also love Oceania.  We’re embarking Queen Anne in 2 weeks.  It will be interesting to compare new vessels.

1 minute ago, Mareblu said:

Bridge of Sighs, precisely 

Or Ponte dei Sospiri

Bridge of Sighs, precisely 

5 hours ago, buchhalm said:

Correct

Phew!👏

9 hours ago, lyndarra said:

Don't know. I've only been to one or two so long ago I can't remember its/their name/s but the pistacchio nuts were good.

Totally random note to you.  Spent time in Ballachulish today when we drove from Oban to Ft William. Thought of Your Lordship.

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Our first, "no longer live from the Vista" post :).  The Vista docked at Trieste (the only cruise ship in the port) early this morning and debarked the shippabout 8:30am, after a last cappuccino and croissant in Baristas.   Because O ended our cruise on a national holiday (Mayday or Labor Day) many normal functions in Trieste were closed.  This included the local rental car agencies.  In order for us to get a car we needed to drive nearly 25 miles to Triest's own airport.  O did offer bus transport, but at $69 Euros per person, it made no sense.  We simply got a local taxi (about a 3 min wait in the queue) and our talkative driver got us to the airport in about 35 minutes at a cost of 65 Euros (total cost for two).  

 

Disembarkation, in Trieste went very smoothly with a majority of passengers heading about 100 miles to Venice's Marco Polo Airport or Venice.  We are already suffering "Vista withdrawal" since we must now fend for ourselves :).  At the Trieste Airport we picked up our rental car from Europcar, and were soon on our way to Lake Bled, Slovenia.  It is our first visit to Slovenia, and we found it interesting that our taxi drive (from Trieste to the airport) told us he often drives to Slovenia for dinner since "everything is much cheaper in Slovenia."  

 

The weatherman was wrong (it was supposed to rain) and we had nice day (with partly sunny skies).  We reached our Lake Bled hotel around noon, and after some lunch we walked part of the way around the picturesque Lake Bled.  This part of Slovenia is beautiful and is growing as a major tourist destination.  During our drive, I pulled in to a gas station (in Italy) in order to purchase the needed Slovenian Vignette.  This is required for anyone driving in this country and a 7 day Vignette cost us 17.50 Euros.  These days it is a digital Vignette and your car's license plate is registered.  Failure to have a vignette can get folks a nasty fine.  In some European countries (including Slovenia), a Vignette replaces most road tolls.

 

One nice thing about being in Slovenia is that English is widely spoken.  It is a mandatory language, in their public schools, and most of the younger folks speak multiple languages including English, German, many Slavic dialects, Spanish, etc.  

 

While we are already missing the Vista and the easy life on a cruise ship, DW and I are always happy to be on our own in Europe with a rental car.  The freedom of being able to go where we want, when we want, with who we want, is what I 5ave loved about travel for the past 57 years of extensive world travel.  And the one thing I do not miss from the Vista is the too often and too long announcements from Peter (the CD).  Life is good :).

 

Hank

Lake Bled is beautiful, Hank.  It’s several years since we drove from Mario’s home town just over the Slovenian border.  We stayed several days, and during that time it certainly wasn’t “touristy”.  It was just before Slovenia switched to the Euro.  At night, with its former island sanctuary bathed in soft light, the lake seemed ethereal.  We are also missing Vista, but enjoying being independent travellers again.  We will collect a car in Scotland on Friday.  At least we will be driving on “our side” of the road, though you would disagree.

Happy and safe travels.

8 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

This is what I do. I have tried Buisness Class once with lie flat bed and I just didn't feel as rested like when I had a stopover in a hotel with a real bed. For me I just don't see the value in BC and I'd rather put that money into a nice stopover instead. 

We usually do both, but this time flew straight through because we were travelling with friends.  BC and a stopover for a few days in Singapore is perfect for us.

7 hours ago, Aloha 1 said:

This is the carbonara recipe from Noel Barille, one of the CIA trained and Italy based chefs who run the culinary center on Riviera, Marina, and Vista. It is authentic and excellent and it is what is served in Toscana.

Pasta Carbonara-Oceania.pages 370.95 kB · 24 downloads

Had no trouble downloading.  Thanks for this excellent recipe.